ascian: inhabitant of the equatorial zoneaskefise: one who blows on ashes to bring them to flameasperity: roughness of surface or soundasportation: to carry property away wrongfullyassiduity: persevering application to a pursuitassuetude: accustomedness; habitastern: at the stern of a shipastraphobia: fear of being struck by lightningastrobolism: sun-strokeastrometeorology: study of effect of stars on climateatactic: irregularathanasy: deathlessnessathetosis: nervous twitching of digits and extremities

Athetosis - I just noticed that the definition given is flawed. The abnormal movements are not"twitching" - they are slow and writhing. And the dictionary definition errs in calling it a musculardisorder. The lesion is in the central nervous system, and not limited to "cerebtral palsy" , thoughthat would be the most common cause.athetosis n.,pl. 3ses 73scz8 a muscular disorder characterized by continuous, slow, twisting motions of the hands, feet, etc., as in cerebral palsy ath4e[toid# 73t.d#8 or ath#e[tot$ic 73t9t4ik8 adj.

atmatertera: great-grandfatherüs grandmotherüs sisteratony: muscular weaknessatrous: jet blackattingent: touchingattuition: operation between sensation and perceptionaudile: person more attuned to sound than the other sensesaught: at allaureole: radiant light around head or body of holy personageaurigation: charioteeringauscultation: listening to sounds arising within organsautecology: study of ecology of one speciesautogenesis: spontaneous generationautonym: a writer's real name; work published under writer's own name

autotelic: being an end in itselfauxology: science of growthaveniform: shaped like oatsavionics: the science of electronic devices for aircraftawn: beard or similar bristly growth on stalk of grainazoth: alchemical name for mercurybacchanal: drunkard; revellerbactericide: killer of bacteriabadinage: playful repartee or banterbahadur: self-important officialbakelite: type of solid plasticbalbutient: stammeringbalistarius: crossbowman

Some of these definitions deserve challenge. "Bahadur" I have seen in Persian legends astitle of respect. Sure, it could be used as put-down to a present day self-appointed bigshot, but the origin should not be forgotten.

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